In a tragic escalation of violence, at least 13 Palestinians lost their lives, and 15 others were wounded in recent Israeli airstrikes targeting a school and a residential building in Gaza. The strikes were reported early Saturday by the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, WAFA.
Among the casualties, eight individuals were killed while seeking refuge in tents at the Halima al-Sa’diyya School in Jabalia, northern Gaza. The school had been sheltering displaced families amidst the ongoing conflict. Additionally, five Palestinians perished in a separate strike on a residential building in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating that they had conducted a “precise strike” on a Hamas command and control center located within the Halima al-Sa’diyya School compound. According to the IDF, the site had been utilized by Hamas operatives for military purposes, prompting the action.
The latest incident is part of the continuing violence that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and the capture of around 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military response has led to a significant loss of life in Gaza, with the local health ministry reporting over 40,800 Palestinian deaths to date.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, with many facing repeated displacement. The situation has sparked international concern, with accusations of war crimes being leveled against both parties, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
